The botanical specimen was sent to Rutgers University, where the plant was identified as Mucuna pruriens. The plant grows wild in the tropics, including India, and its fruit spicules cause dermatitis through an inflammatory response. At Rutgers, who would have been more likely to have made this identification, a systematist or a taxonomist and why?
In 1985 a Paterson, N.J., Fire Department ambulance responded to a call reporting two people with
severe itching, which they attributed to "voodoo beans" found in their beds. Soon after arriving the ambulance
medical technicians developed the same symptoms. All four of the individuals went to the emergency room
where they were found to have rashes on various parts of the body in addition to their itch. The admitting
nurse, who put her arm around one patient, also developed a rash and itch on her arm. A policeman who went
to the apartment the following day and a trash collector at the building also developed itching and received
emergency room treatment. In all cases, symptoms disappeared in 1-2 hours. An industrial hygienist went to
the site in complete protective gear to look for possible chemical contamination. Visual inspection and screens
for ionized organic vapors were negative, but he retrieved a bean pod. The botanical specimen was sent to
Rutgers University, where the plant was identified as Mucuna pruriens. The plant grows wild in the tropics,
including India, and its fruit spicules cause dermatitis through an inflammatory response. At Rutgers, who
would have been more likely to have made this identification, a systematist or a taxonomist and why?
Mucuna pruriens, also known as the velvet bean or cowhage, is a tropical legume plant widely naturalized and cultivated in Asian countries. It is a well-known medicinal plant with a high herbal value for treating nervous disorders such as Parkinson's disease, providing neuroprotective effects, lowering stress, improving focus, reducing anxiety, etc.
Mucuna pruriens is known to cause pruritus (severe skin irritation and itching sensation) which is associated with a compound called mucunain. Mucunain is a protease enzyme present in the plant's fine hairs or trichomes, which cover the seed pods and leaves. When these trichomes come into contact with the skin, they can cause mechanical irritation and trigger an itching response. The sharp tips of the trichomes can penetrate the skin slightly, leading to a prickling sensation and the release of histamines and other inflammatory mediators. Histamines are chemicals released by the body's immune system in response to an irritant or allergen. They cause blood vessels to dilate, leading to increased blood flow to the affected area and also activate sensory nerves, resulting in itching. The release of histamines and other inflammatory substances can lead to an allergic reaction, particularly in individuals who are sensitive or allergic to Mucuna pruriens.
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